Seeking advice / Blast from the past case

[PGen98]

Hey all,

 

Probably a bit unorthodox of a question here, but here we go -- So I was going through my old storage unit to consolidate and get rid of things and I found a bunch of old (but new, still in packaging, just...old...) parts that I'd bought for a couple of builds I was going to put together but never actually got the chance to finish for one reason or another, and while most of the parts now are worthy only of some sort of retro build (ASUS Striker II Formula Motherboard, for example) or even just being recycled, I happened to find my brand new (well, opened once when it arrived, because of course you have to look at this monstrous thing!) still boxed GIGABYTE 3D Mercury (black) case.  I had high hopes for this case and was going to use it for a high end gaming build back then.  Things didn't go as planned and I put it into storage (air conditioned) and eventually just plain forgot about it.  Now it's sitting in my office and gathering dust again, so I'd like to find a use for it.  It's dated, it's got built in liquid cooling and so there's the concern surrounding how well that tubing will have held up over the years, and if it's going to be used the front IO needs to be replaced (4 USB 2.0 ports, obviously no 3.0 from that era).  That said, it's also a massive case, so no real ventilation concerns, and who doesn't like a case with cable management ties?!? :D.  I'm looking to build again in the not too distant future, so there is also a chance of using this case myself, but I've also thought about selling it and seeing if anyone would be interested in it.  So I guess my question is this -- in my position, would you:

 

-Use it for a build, w/ the cooling

-Use it for a build, ignore the cooling

-Get rid of it, recycle that beast

-Sell it, someone could use it!

-Hey Linus, fancy a unique case for a build??

 

Wouldn't mind some opinions on what you'd do with a beast of a case like this!

 

Thanks!

 

Some links for info about the case: https://www.gigabyte.com/Chassis/GZ-FW1CA#kf AND https://www.game-debate.com/cases/index.php?ca_id=492&cases=Gigabyte 3D Mercury

[PGen98]

6 minutes ago, Genwyn said:

Probably going to need to refurbish the cooling if you want to use it. Chances are that the tubing is probably fine but that liquid may have changed as it’s been sitting.

I say build a bitchin 775 machine. Core2extreme on that board, pick up a pair of 8800 ultras, install xp or vista and enjoy Crysis

Just depends on if you want to build for fun rather than utility.

It would make for a fun project, but that’s me, others might not enjoy making era appropriate systems.

Well I could do a fun build with it, and it might be nice to do an era appropriate build, haven't really even considered that, honestly!  Thanks for that tip, I'll give that a look as a potential project, for sure! 

 

I was thinking of using the case in a new build, as well, since it's just such a big, spacious case.  I also just recently turned an old work desktop into a NAS, and given the size and the number of expansion bays this case has, that could be a potential upgrade project, as well.  There are projects I could use it for, I'm just not sure what to actually do with it since at the moment it's taking up space and the future builds aren't going to happen until well after the holiday season, so I figured I'd ask the LTT audience for an idea or two.  I do agree with the liquid, I was always planning to use different liquid, but I had uncertainty about the tubing.  Since it's been in a dry, air conditioned environment for the entire time I've owned it, I guess it probably is alright, but figured it'd be worth a mention in case anyone has experience with either this case over that length of time or liquid cooling with older equipment. 

 

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it!